Farmers are warning Australia's food security is at risk unless stricter rules are introduced to control supermarket pricing.

Industry representatives from New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia are setting up a committee to lobby for a mandatory code of conduct to prevent price gouging and improve competition.

Coles, Woolworths and the Australian Food and Grocery Council are currently developing a voluntary code which they say will curb improper behaviour and give the consumer watchdog greater powers.

New South Wales apple grower Peter Darley is the committee's farmers representative: he says the rules should apply to everyone involved in the supply chain.

Meanwhile the Australian National Retailers' Association disputes claims farmers have a strained relationship with the major supermarkets.

The chief executive Margy Osmond says the voluntary code of conduct will ensure all parties in the supply chain have a voice.

Australian animals destined for Brunei

A mixed shipment of cattle, buffalo and goats has left Darwin for Brunei and will arrive in time for the religious festival known as Qurban.

The special once-a-year shipment is largely paid for by the Sultan of Brunei, who owns Opium Creek and Willeroo stations in the Northern Territory.

The goats were sourced from outback Queensland and livestock manager Ian Bradford says they've been keeping everyone on their toes.

How many animals die in natural disasters?

A group pushing for animals to be included in emergency planning say hundreds of millions of dollars could be saved by preventing livestock deaths in natural disasters.

Research commissioned by the World Society for the Protection of Animals commissioned found 1.6 million farm animals died in 10 major natural disasters, resulting in a direct economic loss of 217 million dollars.

The Society's Australian CEO Carmel Molloy says the figures highlight the need for a national approach to consider animals in disaster planning.